Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-06-09

Some years ago Capt. 0. H. Rogers of
the ship Ph9bus, with a small party of
gentlemen, was ascending the Limbaug
river in Borneo. They came to the place
where it receives the waters of the Madl-
hit, small current flowing in an easterly
direction. Nominally. the party was out
on an exploring expedition, but it is safe
to say that the love of adventure brought
them thither more than the interests of
science.
While travelling onward, and quietly on
the watch for deer, they discerned some
thing lying on the ground not tar of,
above which lowered swarm of what
they supposed to be insects. Their first
thought that some beast had fallen dead
and was thus being devoured. Captain
Rogers remarked that the supposed in
sects could not be insects; they were al
together too large, and altogether too
small for birds of prey.
Here was n mystery which needed only
to be explored. The party advanced to
the spot as hurriedly as possible, when 10
to their utter establishment it was found
that it was a man who had fallen. instead
OF beast, and that this man had been be-.
set and overc me by vampire bats.
What to do first they did not know.
They dared not approach too near the
spot for fear of being attacked in similar
manner. But not moment was to be
lost The poor, unfortunate fellow was
yet alive, for every now and then there
was a visible movement of the body.
81 have an idea," said Captain Rogers,
(Which may work well in this case. Let
us charge our rifles well with powder and
fire in the midst of them
The party thought the idea good one.
and made haste to carry it into effect
The discharge was heard, dense, sui
phurous gas generated above the Frustrated
victim, and the vampires, in terrible con
sternation flew away with rapid speed.
After the smoke had cleared away the
gentlemen approached the spot. Many
of the vampires were lying around, evil
IDENTIFY disabled from the effects OF the
powder. These were mercilessly crushed
by the butt ends of the guns.
With all possible haste attention was
given to the victim. He wore only a
breech cloth. The sight was fearful to
behold, and we forbear to picture it in
the vivid language of Capt. Rogers
The fellow was literally punctured all
over, the ground was moistened with the
blood flowing from his veins, and the
blood still poured out.
At length one of the gentlemen, recall
ing to mind the fact that tobacco ashes
are available for sting, and believing
that vampires sting rather than bite, re-
moved quantity of tobacco from his
pouch, and, laying it on the ground, at
once set it on fire Two of the other gen.
tlemen did likewise.
| Soon enough ashes were obtained to try
the experiment. Having washed away
the bloody gore they smeared these ashes
over the lacerated portion of the mans
body. The sole effect was to Fstop the
blood and cause an intense smarting.
The fellow seemed at last to rally from
his miserable plight, and. failing to raise
his head. he made signs of gratitude to
those who had so kindly betriended him.
After short time he was enabled to
speak, and through the Malay inter prefer,
who accompanied the gentlemen, she fol.
lowing facts were OBJ aimed
He said that he was on his way to a
neighboring village. and that. when night
had come on. he had lain down to sleep
until sunrise. Toward morning ne was
suddenly awakened by y loud noise, and
was terribly frightened to find himself
lying in blood.
Strange to say, he felt little or no pain
but. upon endeavoring to get up, he fell
back completely exhausted. and soon he
was so weak as to be unable to move al
all.
The remainder of the story is best given
nearly in the words of Capt. Rogers. who
concludes:
There was no use talking further
about the matter. l suggested to my
friends that there was only small chance
of saving the mans life; for it really
seemed as if fully two thirds OF his blood
had flowed out. Mr. H. said that it mi Oh,
be well TO carry him to spot, only few
rods of, where the trees would shelter
him from the sun. 1t was q good idea,
and we did so. For nearly four hour;
and half we sat and watched the man
trying our very best to think for his good
He was too tar gone to eat anything, anC
we had to pour water down his throat by
degrees.
i "Well, the worst came at last, as We
knew it would. Suddenly the man threw
his arms upward. They fell with thud